Bracelet chain for wrist watches or the like



A. PERSON BRACELET CHAIN FOR WRIST WATCHES 0R THE LIKE May 31 Filed Feb. 20. 1926 INVENTOR release any si, isa?.

arent AXEL PERSON, OF ATTLEIBORO,v MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO HARVEY OLAP c CO.,

0F ATTLEBORO, MASSACHUSETTS, A ?ARTNERSHIP.

,' i BRACELET CHAIN FOR VIRIST WATCHES OR TEE LIKE.

Application filed February 20, 1926. Serial No. 89,599.

This invention relates to construction for.

bracelet chains tor "rist watches and the like. One ot the objects thereof is to provide a construction olil the above nature which is thoroughly practical and etlicient. Another object is to provide a construction ot' the above nature having provision for expanison and which is neat and attractive in appearance under all conditions of use. Another object is to provide a construction oi the above nature which rugged and durable. Another object is to provide a construction or' the above nature adapted dependably to hold a wrist watch or the like in place and conveniently detachable. Another object is to provide such a device which is simple in construction and capable ot n'ianufacture inexpensively. Other objects will be inpart obvionsor in part pointed ont hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features ol'I construction, combinations ci elements, and arrangements or parts as will be exemplified in the structure to be here-inaiter described and the scope o1" the application ot which will be indicated in the iollowing claims.

In the accompanying drawing in which is shown one of Vthe various possible embodiments of this invention, Y

Figure l is a top plan view;

Figure 2 shows an end portion ol the bracelet chain in enlarged detail and partly in section, the section being taken along the line 2-2 oi Figure el;

Figure 3 is a section taken substantially along the line 3 3 of Figure l;

Figure -l is a bot-tom plan view of the shown in Figures 2 and 3;

Figure 5 is a section taken substantially along the linek 53H5 ot' Figure 3, and

Figures 6, 7 and 8 are perspective views oi coacting parts shown detached from one another.

i Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawing.

Referring now to Figure l of the drawing, there is shown a bracelet chain the body oi which consists ot a series of substantially abutting block links 10 which are connected together as will presently be described in detail, to form a flexible chain. At each end ofthe chain is provided an attaching device for the purpose of making connection with parts a wrist watch or similar article to be held in place upon the wrist. As will be seen from Figures 2 and 3, the end members or links 11 and l2 ot' the chain are ot greater' ength than the main block links 10 and slide beneath the attaching devices, as will be described, to permit expansion or lengthening of the chain.

Considering now the manner in which the block links 10 are constructed and connected together, referring to Figures and 3, it will be seen that each of these block links is provided with upstanding side walls 13 and with upstanding end walls'l-l. The side walls 13 give the links the appearance of being .solid blocks. As best shown in Fig ures l and l, the block links 1 0 are joined together to 'form the chain by means of in` tei-mediate connecting links l5. The end walls 14 of the block links l() pass througn the connecting links 15 and are bent over into a plane substantially parallel with the top surfaces of the links. These bent over portions la of the end walls are of such length that, in each block link they abut at their ends and thus form a. smooth solid bottom surface for the links. In addition, the side wallslB ot the block linksv have portions 13""bent over beneath the links and oi' such length that their edges abut the side edges of the be-nt over portions 112k rlhus, it will be seen that the block links are provided with a solid and smooth bottom surface to contact with the Wrist of the. wearer. Moreover, it will be seen in Figure a that the bent n over parts 13 as well as the bent over parts ld embrace the connecting links 15. In this manner a strong and serviceable construction is obtained.

The two connecting devices at the respective ends of the bracelet chain are preferably substantially identical so that one only need be described in detail. As was mentioned above, and as shown in Figures 2 and 3, the end link 1l is oi' substantially greater length than the main links 10 and is slidable beneath the outer surface ot the end connecting device. The top wall ot this connecting device is formed by a sheet metal member 16 which is provided with depending side walls 17. The left-hand end portion of the member 16, as viewed in the drawing, is extended outwardly and curved downwardly to form a hook 18. This part 16 with its side walls 17 and hooked portion 18 is clearly shown in perspective and in enlarged detail in Figure G. The hook 18 is adapted for makin@ connection with the bracket o'r -eross'bar o? the wrist watch.

The bottom wall oit the connecting device is termed by a sheet metal member 1S) which is shown in persjgiective in Figure T and in tranffvcrse section in Figure The niember l?) is provided at its side edges with projecting lugs 20 which fit into the notches 2l indivfated in the side walls 1T ot' the part 1G in Figure 6. In assembling Athe parts, the member 19 is placed upon the member 1G Vwith the lugs 2t) in registry with the notches 21 and thereupon the parts 17 of the side wal-l 3.1i are flanged over as shown in li'igure 4, thereby clan'ipingthe inen'ibers 19 and 1G toget her.

The end link 11 is shown in enlarged perspective in Figure 8 rand is seen to be provided with side walls l2 correspomling in depth to the side walls 13 ot the block links 10. Also' this end member 11 is provided with an end wall 23 which is 'flanged over and embraces a connecting link 15 as 'is shown in Figures 2 and 3. This end iuember 11 fits beneath the member 1li and between the side walls k'1T thereot and slidablc lmigit-ndina ll y therein.

The member 19,*at its iniddle portion, is arched upwardly toward the top member 16, as is best shown in Figure 5, leaving only snliicient space jt'or the member 11 to slide therebetween. Thus, at the sides ot' the member 19am provided a pair ot longitudi nal chambers or passages 2tland 25 in which are received spiral oomlnession springs Q6 and Q7. T bese springs are held between a aai-r of ears Jformed on the sliding inembei' 11 and a pair ot ears 29 'formed -on the bottom or base member 19. These springs thus nrgethe member 11 to slide inwardly into the connect-ing device or toward the hook 18. The bracelet may be extended by pulling the member 11 outwardly and exposing :i greater portion thereof, this action onpressing the springs Q6 .and 27. As this expansion or lengthening ot the braceletoccurs, no imsightly gaps appear, the surface of thefmember 11 being simply exposedto a greater extent.. The surface of the member 11 may be marked oil' to resemble a number of the block links l() and is preferably provided with the saine design or oruan'ientation which is applied to the links 10.

The middle portion of the bottom member 19 is extended `from its end remote 'trom the hook 18..:i1id this extended part or extension 30 of the member :19 is bent back upon itself and toward the hook 1S. This member 30 which may be termed a tongue, thus bent, tends to spring outwardly trom the bottom surfaceyof the member 19 or downwardly away `from the top member 1G. 'When the parts are assembled, the end portion 30 of this spring nien'ibei' springs against the lip 18 ot the hook 1S. This spring member 30 thus provides an effective lock for the hook, preventing lslipping out from the grip 0f the hook -ol' any part which embraced thereby.

1t will be seen that this spring lock is an integral part Vof the attaching device, being toi-med integral with the bottom member 19. The use ot solder or other similar securing mea-ns is wholly avoided and the resul-ting structure is ot maximum strength, insuring dependable service.

ln order to attach the hook 18 to the bracket ot a watch or the like, or morder to release the hook, the member 3() is sprung 'upwardly toward the upper member 16. In order to Jfacilitate manipulation of the locking member, the end thereof is preferably provided with an extension 31 which projects upwardly through `an opening 32 in the member 1t. At its uppei' end the part 31 is provided with a bent over ilange 31 which may be engaged conveniently to lift the spring lock upwardly.

llt will be seen that the construction herein provided is one which is strong and rugged throughout. The number ot parts employed is kept at a minimum and the parts which are employed are so constructed and soV joined together as to insure correct action and dependable service. There is thus provided a construction which achieves the objects of this invention andV aeoomplishes many advantages of practical importa-nce.

As many possible embodiments .may be made ot' the above invention and as many changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is 4to be understood that all matter hercinbetore set forth or shown .in the accompanying drawings is to be inten preted as illustrative and noty in a limiting sense. e

I claim as my invention:

1. A connector like comprising, .in combination, a boxlike vmember iaving top, lbottom Iand side Walls,

said top wall vbeing extended and curved downwardly at one end to form a hook, a slidable member in said box-like member, sliding tliereinto from the end thereof remote from said hook, and a pair of Sp1-ings within said box-like member urging said last men'iber to slide tliere'into, said bottom wall being bent upwardly at an intermediate longitudinal portion and forming with said side wall a. pair ot' longitudinal pasages in which said spi-ings rest.

2. A connector for bracelet chains or the like comprising, in combination, a box-like member having top, bottom and side walls, said 'top wall being extended and curved downwardly at one end to `form a hook, a slidable member in said box-like member, sliding thereinto from the end thereof remote ilrom said hook, a Apair of springs withfor bracelet chains or the memes @if in said box-like member urging said last member to slide thereinto, said bottom wall being bent upwardly at an intermediate longitudinal portion and forming with said side wall a pair ot longitudinal passages in which said springs rest, and a spring tongue for said hooi; extending longitudinally of and beneath said bottom wall to the lip of said hook and accommodated in the recess in the bottom oit said box-like member formed by said. upward bend in said bottom wall.

3. A connector tor bracelet chains or the like comprising, in combination, a box-like member having top, bottom and side walls, said top wall being extended and curved downwardly at one end to form a hook, a slid-able member in said box-like member, sliding tliereinto from the end thereof remote from said hook, and a pair of springs yithin said box-like men'iber urging said last member to slide thereinto, said bottom wall being bent upwardly at an intern'iediate longitudinal portion and forming with said side wall a pair of lfjingitudinal passages in which said springs rest, said bottom wall having a part extending outimrdlyv from the end thereof remote from said hooh and bent to form aspring tongue t'or said hook, said part being acconnnodated in the recess in the bottom of said box-like member ormed by said upward bend 1n said bottom wall.

it. A connector for bracelet chains or the like comprising, in combination, a member having a top wall, a bottom Wall, and side walls, a member slidably resting Within said lirst member having a top wall and dependent side walls, said lbottom wall of said first member being bent upwardly toward said top wall at an intermediate longitudinal portion thereof, said slidable member having parts depending therefrom on either side ot said bent-up portion, and a pair of springs one on either side ot said bent-up portion and engaging said-depending parts oit said slidable member and urging the same to slide into said first member.

5. A connector tor bracelet chains or the like con'iprising, in combination, a box-like member having top, bottom and side walls, said box-like member being shaped so that the interior thereof provides a plurality of spaced longitudinally extending chambers, a member longitudinally slidable within said box-like member, and a plurality of springs one positioned in each of said longitudinal chambers and connected to urge said member to slide into said box-like member.

in testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification this ninth day of lFebruary, 1926.

AXEL PERSON. 

